FOR a while last Saturday it seemed as if Baywing had put up one of the novice chase times of this or any other season in winning the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase by 22 lengths. Even after it became apparent that the amended race distance was not what was being stated by Wetherby’s Clerk of the Course, the time - which was 13.2s quicker than a useful hunter chase later on - looked distinctly useful.

I have a 151 timefigure for this effort and that would give Baywing a major chance in the National Hunt Chase. He has, however, raced only on soft/heavy going to date.